Coordinates: 50°52′16″N 0°18′19″W / 50.8712°N 0.30529°W
| Botolphs | |
 Church of St. Botolph |
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  Botolphs
Botolphs shown within West Sussex |
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| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Bramber |
| District | Horsham |
| Shire county | West Sussex |
| Region | South East |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STEYNING |
| Postcode district | BN44 |
| Dialling code | 01903 |
| Police | Sussex |
| Fire | West Sussex |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Arundel and South Downs |
| List of places: UK • England • West Sussex | |
Botolphs, once known as Annington, is a tiny village in the Horsham District of West Sussex, England. It is located in the Adur Valley and on the South Downs Way. It lies on the Steyning to Coombes road 1.5 miles (2.4 km) southeast of Steyning.
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Parish church of St Botolph
The ancient parish church is dated from 950 and large parts of the Saxon construction remain, particularly in the chancel wall and arch, and in the south wall. The tower was added in the mid-13th century, as was the chancel, replacing a Saxon apse.
The church was dedicated to Saint Peter in the earliest Norman records, and the community was then known as 'Annington'. It seems likely that an original dedication to Saint Botolph was considered obscure by the Norman invaders, and the church therefore renamed (this was a common practice). However, the original dedication lived on in community memory, and eventually prevailed. By the 13th Century almost all references are to "St Botolph's Church" and the 14th Century saw the final official reference to "St Peter's Church"[1]. By a process of association, the village took the name of Botolphs. The name Annington also survives, as a hamlet between Botolphs and Bramber.
Population and economy
Botolphs is an example of a linear village. There is only one surfaced road, which is a lengthy country lane stretching from Steyning to Shoreham Airport. The neighbouring hamlet of Annington and the neighbouring village of Coombes are also both located on this same single surfaced road. There are however some dirt tracks leading to more remote dwellings (such as the house 'Tin Pots' which dominates many postcard views of the village, but is located some distance from the road). Most residents live in houses on the single surfaced road.
Botolphs once had a sizeable population with trade from both the navigable River Adur and salt production. The decline of both industries (largely due to the silting of the river) led to a sharp decline, and in 1534 the ecclesiastical parish of Botolphs was united with that of Bramber. The village population has remained fairly constant from then to the present day, at around 50 to 60 people. The community did once support an independent civil parish council, but this has followed the earlier example of the ecclesiastical parish, in being absorbed into Bramber.
With the decline of the shipping and salt industries, the only real economy for the village for many years was farming. During the heyday of the British railway network the railways supported the local economy, with platelayer's cottages built near the church. Today the only industry in the community is farming plus the light industrial units at the Annington Industrial Estate in the neighbouring hamlet, where several small businesses are located. Most residents work outside the community, some commuting to London.
History of the manor
The village was once held by members of the Levett family, a Sussex family of Norman origin, who probably inherited by marriage from the Merlots.[2] In 1585 Lawrence Levett of Hollington died in possession of the manor of Botolphs, which he left to his sister Maria, wife of Thomas Eversfield. It remained in the possession of the Eversfield family for several centuries until it was purchased by Charles Goring.[3][4]
The Saint Mary Magdalene leper hospital was located in neighbouring Bramber, in the area now known (by corruption of Magdalene) as Maudlyn. The leprous inmates were not permitted to attend Bramber's fashionable castle church, and were sent instead to observe the mass at Botolphs, where two leper squints were provided in the chancel walls.
The church walls bear many plaques commemorating the local 'Penfold' family, whose descendents emigrated to Australia and are now famous for wine production, under the Penfolds label.
References
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